WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown crowns winner

(PRESS RELEASE) -- The WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship concluded Wednesday, 30 April and it was Ian Cohen who claimed the title. Cohen secured the lion’s share of the $4.5 million prize pool, earning $656,200 for first place. In addition to the cash prize, Cohen joins the WPT Champions Club, adding his name to the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup and earns a $10,400 seat in the season ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

The $3,500 buy-in WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, held at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, attracted a field of 1,417 entrants. The event surpassed the $3 million guarantee, generating a total prize pool of $4,534,000 with the top 178 players earning a minimum payout of $6,400.

Final Winners:

1st: Ian Cohen (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) $656,200 (+ Showdown Trophy)

2nd: Richard Seymour (Suwanee, Ga.) $430,000

3rd: Michael Amato (Boca Raton, Fla.) $320,000

4th: Frank Funaro (Margate City, N.J) $240,000

5th: Johnny Bromberg (Los Angeles, Calif.) $181,000

6th: Raj Vohra (Lake Worth, Fla.) $138,000

NFL Hall of Famer Richard Seymour who finished runner up, earning $430,000. Michael Amato finished third taking home $320,000. Rounding out the final table were Frank Funaro (4th place - $240,000), Johnny Bromberg (5th place - $181,000), and Raj Vohra (6th place - $138,000).

The series opening event, $400 Deep Stack No Limit Hold ‘em, drew 4,783 entries, creating a total prize pool of more than $1.5 million. Sebastian Toro Henao of Medellin, Colombia won the opener, earning $201,030.

Other signature event winners include:

- Danny Fuhs (Irvine, Calif.) winning the $1,100 Triple Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $133,510
- Johnny Bromberg (Los Angeles, Calif.) winning the $800 Platinum Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $258,125
- Josh Reichard (Janesville, Wis.) winning the $10,000 Deep Stack NLH (Re-Entry) for $191,785

Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown also hosted the “Larry Frank Memorial Charity Event Benefiting Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida” on Thursday, April 23. The charity event was in honor of Larry Frank, with proceeds going to Make-A-Wish® Southern Florida. The event had 124 entries and a prize pool of $14,700 + $9,145 in non-cash prizes. Willie Wiggins of Pembroke Pines FL won the top prize of $3,500 plus a $3,500 seat in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship.

Poker action will return to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood with its flagship series Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO) Tuesday, 28 July – Tuesday, 11 August.